Device and Method for Temperature Management of Heating Pad Systems

Abstract

According to some embodiments, an apparatus for warming a patient on a thermal pad includes a heating element to heat a surface of the thermal pad. A power unit is operable to provide power to the heating element. Respective ones of a plurality of sensors are coupled to detect temperature at select portions of the surface of the thermal pad, while a heating element sensor is coupled to detect a temperature of the heating element. A temperature control circuit board is embedded within the thermal pad and is electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors and the heating element sensor. The temperature control circuit board is operable to limit a temperature at the surface of the thermal pad to a safe temperature based on the temperature detected by the plurality of sensors and the heating element sensor.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a pad configured to support a patient;   at least one heating element configured to heat a patient-contacting surface of the pad;   at least one temperature sensor disposed about the pad and configured to sense a local temperature;   a temperature control circuit embedded within the pad and that is:
 operably coupled to the heating element and the at least one temperature sensor and configured to limit a temperature at the patient-contacting surface of the pad to a safe temperature; and 
 operably coupled to a wireless communications path. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the temperature control circuit is configured, at least in part, to convey temperature data via the wireless communications path. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a plurality of temperature sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the temperature data comprises temperature data regarding temperatures sensed by at least one of the plurality of temperature sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the temperature data comprises temperature data regarding temperatures sensed by at least two of the plurality of temperature sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of temperature sensors includes at least two temperature sensors configured to detect temperature at select portions of the patient-contacting surface of the pad and wherein the temperature data comprises temperature data for at least one of the two temperature sensors configured to detect temperature at select portions of the patient-contacting surface of the pad. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the temperature data comprises temperature data for both of the two temperature sensors configured to detect temperature at select portions of the patient-contacting surface of the pad. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of temperature sensors further includes at least one heating-element sensor configured to detect a temperature of the heating element. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are embedded within the pad. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to communicate with a power unit via the wireless communication path. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to communicate with the power unit via the wireless communication path to thereby control power being delivered by the power unit to the heating element. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to communicate with the power unit via the wireless communication path to thereby control power being delivered by the power unit to the heating element by communicating with the power unit via the wireless communication path to thereby cause the power unit to reduce power being provided to the heating element by the power unit. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the temperature control circuit is configured to communicate with the power unit via the wireless communication path to thereby control power being delivered by the power unit to the heating element by communicating with the power unit via the wireless communication path to thereby cause the power unit to deactivate power being provided to the heating element by the power unit. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 by a temperature control circuit that is embedded within a pad, the pad being configured to support a patient:
 receiving local temperature information from at least one temperature sensor that is disposed about the pad; 
 using the local temperature information to limit a temperature at a patient-contacting surface of the pad to a safe temperature; and 
 at least one of transmitting and receiving information via a wireless communications path. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one of transmitting and receiving the information comprises conveying temperature data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the temperature data comprises temperature data regarding temperatures sensed by the at least one temperature sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a plurality of temperature sensors and wherein the temperature data comprises temperature data regarding temperatures sensed by at least two of the plurality of temperature sensors. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one of transmitting and receiving the information comprises communicating with a power unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein communicating with the power unit facilitates controlling power being delivered by the power unit to a heating element that is configured to heat the patient-contacting surface of the pad. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein controlling power being delivered by the power unit to the heating element comprises at least one of reducing power being delivered by the power unit to the heating element and deactivating power being delivered by the power unit to the heating element.